Mechanical musical instrument.



H. P. BALL. MECHANICAL MUSIGAL' IK STRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1906.

Paterited Nov 5, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

TlGni.

F l GAL 75 7 l4 Wm 6'6 6'5 WITNESSES: iNVENTOR Mr I 5 1 I mmyfi Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

' 5 9 5 6' n 3% Q0785? 35' L 27/ 35 A? I 59 167 m 60 .9. 8 0 74 /0f 07 3 ATTORNEY 5 77 T97 MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1906 11,043,501, Pa LtentedNov. 5, 1912.

IN VENT R FIG.13. MQM. I Q 9; Q j ygATTORNEY H. P. BALL.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 11, 1906.

Patented N 0v. 5, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 FlGlk 76 2;? M5 M7 190 6A Fiji-$15. FIGJB. 52

INVENTOR g, 7% Kay, AM.

gg fm 33 H. P; BALL. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLIOATION FILED JULI'll, 1906.

Patented Nov; 5,1912. I

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

FIG-20. 35 19.21.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PRICE BALL, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASISIGNOR T0 HOLLAND DEVELOPMENT COMIANY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnmnr Pinon BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical Inusical instruments, and, as herein embodied, utilizes various features of the mechanically operated players disclosed in several of my prior applications, as follows: Serial Number 144,259,1iled February 20, 1903, and Serial Number 161,261, filed June 13, 1903. In the instrument of this application, a piano and an organ are combined in such manner, that either or both, under the control of the operator, may be made responsive to a perforated music sheet for producing various musical effects, such for example as: An organ solo with piano accompaniment; a piano solo with organ accompaniment; an organ solo with organ accompaniment, using different sets of reeds or pipes.

The object of my invention is to provide means for accenting certain individual notes, such as the theme notes, on either the piano or organ, also for swelling either piano or organ notes in general, or selecting out of a number of sets of organ reeds those to play as solo and others as accompaniment.

It is one of the fundamental features of this invention that certain notes of the musical composition may be played on one responsive device, and other notes on another dovice, for examplez-The piano may be used to play the accompaniment, and a pipe or reed organ to play the theme, or any other combinations of automatic musical instruments can be used.

' An instrument suitable for carrying my invention into effect. is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the instrument with certain parts shown in section. Fig; 2- is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a fragment of the perforated music sheet and a portion of the tracker board with which. it coiiperates. Fig. 4- is a detail cross-section of the tracker-board. Fig. 5+-

is awertical longitudinal section on the line 6 5 of Fig. 2.. Fig. 6- is a vertical cross- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1906.

'22. Fig. 24* is a detail view portio n of a modified form of music'sheet Patented Nov. 5, 1912. Serial No. 325,578.

section on the line 6-6 and 8' are detail sectional views showing certain of the valves,.ducts, etc. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10- is adetail sectional view on the line'10-10 of Fig. 6. Fig. 11- is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 8, showing the valves in a different position. Fig. 11?- isa detail sectional view on the l1ne 11--11 of Fig. 11. Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the valve chests, reed chest, slidevalves, and tl'iaoonnections from the valves tothe stops by which they are controlled. Fi '13- is av detail view of one of the slide va ve rods and the connections through' which the valve is controlled. Fig. 14- is an enlarged detail view, showing the perforated music sheet in position and the of Fig. 5. Figs. 7.

across the tracker-board. Fig. 15- is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 14. Fig. Iii-is a. horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 14. 17- is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 17,-17 of Fig. 1. Fig. 18- is a similar view, taken on the line 1818 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 isa sectional view of a modification of the valve ducts shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 20- is a sectional view showing a modified construction and arrangement of the valved connect-ions between the high and the iow pressure chambers and thesound producing devices. Figs. 21 and 22 are enlarged detail views showing the interlocking action, between the stems of the valves shown in Fig. 20. F ig'. 23 is a bottom plan view of the valve shown in Fig.

and cooperating tracker-board.

The instrument shown in the drawings preferably employs piano'and organ mechanisms as sound producing devices and such mechanisms, through suitable connections with a tracker-board, are made responsive to the'perforations of a music sheet. The instrument is inclosed in a suitable casing indicated at 1, which may be given any form desired.

The piano mechanism, as shown in Fig, 6, is situated in the rear of the instrument, and asarranged may be operated from a key-board the usual manner or by power, through a series of pneum'atics indicated at showing a 9, the connections being independent of each ings 16, I

pneumatics with primary valves, 18, which operate in other, so that when the power are acting the keys remain at rest, and vice versa, as hereinafter described.

T he organ mechanism, represented as consisting of a plurality of sets of reeds, 38, 41,

etc., is situated in the upper part of the instrument, and, as arranged, such reeds may be independently controlled in sets and thrown in or out of action at the will of the operator, as will be hereinafter explained.

The piano and organ mechanisms proper form no part of the present'invention, except so far as they serve to illustrate ditierent types of sound producing devices, and it will, therefore, be understood that other types may be employed if desired.

In order that certain notes inay be accented or otherwise modified when sounded alone or simultaneously with other notes, high and low exhaust pressures are employed, the low pressure serving to produce normal tones and the high pressure, accented effects, as described in my prior applications above referred to.

Intel-posed between the sound producing devices and the sources of high and low pressure, there are a series of valved con nections which operate under the control of the perforated music sheet as it passes over the tracker-boa rd, to cause the notes selected to speak on either the high or low exhaust, depending upon whether the notes are to be accented or sounded as normal tones. The arrangement of these connections is such as 'to provide separate and independent pasexhaust passage sages from each sound producing device of the instrument to each source of energy, as will now he described in detail.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 17:-a chamber is shown at 2, in which high exhaustpressure maintained in any well known manner. Fitted in the wall of a passage or duct,

2, leading from the chamber 2, (see Figs.-

8, S}, and 11) there a series of diaphragms, 3, each of which is connected with the stem 4 of a high pressure valve, 5. The valves 5 are arranged in separate chambers, 5 and are held norn'iallv by means of springs, 6, closing ports, T, between the high pri' and a serieso't ducts, 8. its shown in Fig. S), there is a duct 8 leading from each valve chambcr fi, and connecting with a power pneumatic, J, through abranch 8, which is controlled by a. slide valve, 10, and with a reed duct, 11, through a branch, 8", similarlv controlled by a slide valve, 12, (we Fig. (3). The valves 5 are operated pneun'iatically through connections consist ing or": a series oi" ducts 153 which lead from chambers 15 on the side of the diaphragms 3, exterior to the passage 2 and terminate as shown in Figs-2 4 and 6, in openings, 14, of the irackerhoard, 15. The tracker-boznd is also provided with the usual main epenconnected by means of tubes, 17,

the usual manner to admit air to ducts 19, leading to the diaphragm chambers, 20 of the low ressure valves, 30. The chambers 2O are ormed along one side of a low exhaust passage, 21, and mounted in each there is a diaphragm, 20, as shown in Figs. (3, 10, and 11'.

The low exhaust passage 21 communi-. cates with high exhaust chamber 2, as shown in Fig. 1, through openings 21, 24, and the regulator bellows 22. The bellows 22 is normally held open by a spring, 23, and the exhaust from the chamber 2 acting through opening 24, causes the bellows to collapse and a valve 25 therein to close the opening 24 before the full exhaust power of'chamber 2 becomes efiectivein the passage 21. A lower pressure is thus "maintained in the passage 21 than that in chamber 2.

The ducts 13 leading from tracker openings 14: to diaphragm chambers 13 are continued beyondsiich chambers as ducts 2", and connect the same with diaphragm chambers 20. In each of the ducts 26 there is a valve,27,which is normally held slightly open by a spring, 28, and serves to connect corresponding ducts 13 and 19 in pairs.

To each of the diaphragms 20, there is secured the stem 29, of a low pressure valve 30, and also a spring pressed valve 29, which spring pressed valve at certain times (in the speaking position) closes port 32 and prevents connection of the low pressure exhaust chamber 21 to the high pressuie exhaust chamber 2, through channels 3iand 34 (Fig. 11). The valves 30 are each arranged in a separate chamber, 30, and by meansof springs, 31, normally close ports 32, between such chambers and the low pressure exhaust 21.

Leading from each of the low pressure valve chambers 30, there is a duct, 34, which A connecting. passage, 34, is orovided be-- l\\'(-(11 each low pressure duct and the corresponding high pressure duct 8, and -:=ntrollin; the passage there is a valve, 3-1", as shown in l igs. 11 and 11.

In the operation of the instrument, when a perforation in the music sheet registers with a traclngr opening, 10, to sound 1-. note as a normal tone, air entering by way of tube 17, operates a primary valve 18, in the usual manner,- to open a duct 19 to the atmosphere. The' resulting pressure admitted to the chamber 26* through duct l9 closes the valve 27 and acts 'upon the diaphragm 20; to move the low pressure valve 30' from 5 the position shown in Fig. 6 tothat shown 10 by way of port 32, duct 34, and valve'chamber "5 and if, as shown in Fig. 6, the slide valve 36, :ontrolling the branch 35 of the duct 35 leading to the power pneumatic t), is open, the latter will collapse under the action of the low pressure exhaust, and, through the connection indicated at 55, and 57, impart motion to the piano action to sound the note desired." If, on the other hand, the slide'valve 36 is closed and the slide valve 37in the branchduct 35 leading to the reed cells 39 and 42, is open, the note .will be sounded by either a reed 38 or 41, or both, depending upon the position of slide valves 40 and 43, cqntrolling the two sets of reeds shown. After the note perforation has passed over the tracker opening, the

air trapped in the duct 19 is exhausted through the bleed holes 68, and thereupon the spring 28 acts to throw the valve 27 open, and the low pressure,..valve is returned by its spring 31 to normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, opening port 33 andadmitting air to the duct 35. v

When an accented note is to be sounded, two perforations of the music sheet are caused to register with openings in the tracker-board. One, a note perforation; such as is indicated at in Fig. 3, registering with a tracker opening 16, and the other, an accent perforation, -66, registering with tracker duct 14, to admit air to chambers 13 and 20, which acts upon the diaphragms 3 and 20 to shift the valves from their normal position shown in 6 to the position shown in Fig. 11, andresults in closing communication between the ducts 34 and 35 by way of valve chamber 5*, also in closing port 33, from duct 34 to the atmosphere and in opening duct 8 to the high exhaust passage 2, through valve chamber 5*. The high exhaust pressure being now effective in duct 8, its action upon a particular sound producing device is controlled and determined by the'position of the various slide valves 10, 12, 40, and 43, which may be shifted to cause the note to be sounded by one or. more reeds, or the piano, or the piano and one or more reeds as desired. The position of the --valves 5 and 30 will not be changed by the passing ofthe auxiliary perforation 66 from over its opening 14 in the tracker-board, and they will remain as adjusted as long as the mam perforation, 65, continues open, as the air admitted through perforation 65, pas- 66 sage 19, under valve .27, and through the ment.

duct 26, acts to hold the high exhaust valve 5 open. As the ducts13 and 19 are closed by' the passing of both perforations 65 and 66, the air contained therein will be exhausted through the bleed holes 67 and 68 and the valves and 30 will be returned to the position ,shown in Fig. 6 by the actionof The air in the duct 13.

springs 6 .and .31. is exhausted directly through the bleed hole 67 and the air induct 19 indirectly through the same, by way of bleed hole 68, and ducts 26 and 13. When valves 5 and 30 are returned to the position shown in Fig. 6, the exhausted passage 8 and power pneumatic 9 will be supplied with air admitted through passages 33, 34 'and valve controlled passage 34. When air pressure becomes nearly equal in passages 8 and 34, passage 34 willbe closed by the spring actuated valve 34. so that the exhaust caused by movement of valve 30 to the position shown in Fig. 11, will not act in passage 8. The valve 29, as

will be seen, prevents the low pressure exhaust in chamber 21 from being exhausted still lower by being connected to the high pressure-exhaust 2 when valve 5 operates to connect duct 8 to the high pressure exhaust.

From the foregoing it will be seen, that separate connections are provided from the high pressure exhaust in passage 2 and from the low pressure exhaust in passage 21, to each of the power pneumatics 9 and the cells of eachiset of reeds. It will also be observed that by means of the various slide valves referred to, either the high or low pressure may be thrown on tothe power pneumatics or either set of reeds,'or the pneumatics and either or both sets of reeds, at the will" of the operator. The piano and reeds may, therefore, be used separately or combined in any manner desired. To sets of reeds and the piano, for example, would give the following:

notes in the composition.

Piano, solo-reeds 38, accompaniment, Piano, solo reeds 41, accompaniment. Piano, solo-reeds 38 and 41, accompaniment. I I

'Reeds 38, soloreeds 41, accompaniment. Reeds 41, soloreeds 38, accompaniment. Reeds 38, solo-piano, accompaniment. Reeds 41, solopiano, accompaniment. Reeds 38 and 41, solo'-piano, accompani- As shown in Fig. 6, the reeds 38 and 41 are contained in chest 44, which is provided with a hinged cover 45. -By means of a lever 46, pivoted. at 47, preferably at a point Playing all 1 in front and to the left of the center of the key-board, the cover 4-5 may be raised or lowered as required, to vary the volume of sound produced. The lever 46, as shown in :Fig. 1, is connected by means of a rod, 48,

to one arm of a bell-crank lever, 4C9, the other arm of which is connected-by a rod, 50, to a crank arm, 51, of shaft 52, and this shaft, in turn, is connected to the cover of the reed chest 44, through the arms 53 and links 54. r

The connections between the power pneumatics and the keyboard of the piano are preferably so arrangedas to permit the piano to be operated either manually'or mechanically, as above stated. As shown in Fig. 6, rods 55, from the power pneumatics 9 pass through openings in levers 57, pivoted at 58 upon the inner ends of the keys 59 of the instrument. These rods terminate below the levers in enlarged heads,56, which lie in openings, 60, of the keys 59. When a key is struck, lever '57 is carried upward with it, and the-piano action, which is indicated at 61 as resting upon the lever 57, operates in the usual manner without motion being imparted to the rod 55. In the operation of a power pneumatic, the free end of the lever 57 is lifted by the rod and the operation of the piano action 61 follows, while the key remains at rest.

It will be observed that in the action shown, the member 61 thereof co-acts with a notched surface, 62, formed on the hammer butt 63 and as anote is repeated, it engages oneof the intermediate notches before the hammer falls back to the position of rest shown at Fig. 6, thus shortening its stroke and insuring high rapidity of action. I

The perforated music sheet 64: herein eniployed, is provided, as above stated and as shown in Fig. 3, with the usual perforations 65 and an additional series of smaller perforations indicated at 66, which are spaced so as tolie intermediate the main perforations, and as arranged, one series, 65, registers with the set of openings 16 in the trackboard, and the other series, 66, with the secondset of smaller openings 14 thereof.

Provision is" made ordinarily in instru- :nents of the class herein described for maintaining the perforations in the music sheet in line with their respective tracker openings, but, if for any reason the sheet should be thrown slightly out of alinement, it would result in causing one or more selector perforations, (S6, to open adjoining tracker-ducts 16 and sound discordant notes. In order to 'rcnder thesclector perforations ineffective under the conditions stated, they are made much smaller than the main perforations,

, and the bleed holes 68, in the main ducts 19,

are suitably enlarged or made of such diameter as to equahze or counter-act the feet of the selector perforations, when registering with the main tracker-ducts and consequently there is no response from the sound producing devices.

As before mentioned, the power pneu matics 9, and reeds 38 and 41 may be operated either by the highexhaust pressure in duct 8, or by the low exhaust pressure in duct 35, depending upon the position ,of the various slide valves. The slide valves employed are of substantially the same construction, each being provided with a series of openings spaced in accordance with the ducts with which they are designed to cooperate and adapted, through the adjustment of the valve, to be brought into register therewith.

Through suitable connections to be later on described these valves are designed to be operated-and controlled by a series of stops shown in Fig. 12, the arrangement being as follows:

Pullin stop 77opens valves 10 and throws t e power pneumatics on the high pressure connections.

Pulling stop 86-opens valves 36 and throws the power pneumatics on the low pressure connections.'

Pulling stop 105-opens valves 12 and 40 and throws the reeds 38 on the high pressure connections.

Pulling stop 111opens valves 37 and a0 and throws the reeds 38on the low pressure connections.

Pulling stop 97-opens valves 12 and 43 valves 10 is connected by a rod, 7 0, link, is, and crank arm, 7 3, with a vertical shaft, 7 and is acted upon by a spring, 71, which tends to hold the valve closed. To a second crank arm, 75, of the Shitfh'ldc, a rod, 76, is

ing in the casing of the instrument and terminates adjacent to the key-board in a stopvalves 86, acted upon by springs, 80, are similarly connected by rods, 79, links, 81, andcrank-arms, 82, to a vertical shaft, 83. At its lower end the shaft 83 has fixed thereon a second crank arm, 84, and pivotally secured to the arm there is a rod, 85; which terminates in a stop-knob, 86. The accenting or solo slide valves, 12, for the organ reeds are acted upon by springs, 89, which yieldingly hold them in a closed position. Secured to or formed in part with each valve there is a rod, 88, on which are two fixed collars, 91 and 99, and two movable collars, and 98. The movable collar 90 on each of the rods 88 cotiperates with the fixed collar fill thereon and is connected and throws the reeds ll on the high pressure Each of thepiano accenting or solo slide connected, which extends through an openknob, 77. Thepiano accompaniment slide 94 and crank arm 95, to a rod, 96, which ter-.

ininates in a stop-knob, 97'. lVhen' the stopknob-97 is pulled out, the crank arm 95 will be swung around, rotating the vertical shaft 94, and this motion, transmitted through the crank arm 93 and link 92, will cause the sliding collar 90, acting against the fixed collar in opposition to its springs. The shaftflllis rotated until the crank arm 93 and link 92 become alined and acting on the well .known toggle principle, hold valve 12 with the openings 87 thereof registering with the high exhaust duct 8. i

The sliding collar 98 on each yalve rod 88 co-acts with the fixed collar 99 thereon, and is connected through a link, 100, crank arm, 101, vertical shaft, 102,and.crank arm, 103, to a rod, 104, terminating in a stop-knob, 105.

The accompaniment slide valves .37 are controlled by stop-knobs, 110, 111, through connections with vertical shafts, 108, 109, similar to those above described for the valve rod 88. The vertical shaft-s94, 102, 108, and 109, in addition to operating the several valves 12 and 37, are also connected to operate reed valves 40 and A3. 1 Reed valve 10 is provided with openings, 112, which are adapted to register with reed duct 11, and its pro jecting end, 113, is acted upon .by a spring, which yieldingly holdsthe valve in a closed position. A sliding collar, 114, co -acting with a fixed collar,.115, on the valve rod,

' 113, as shown in Fig. 12, is connected by link 116, to a crank arm, 117, on vertical shaft 102. T he valve rod 113 has a second sliding collar, 118, thereon, which acts against a fixed collar, 119, and is connected by link 120 to a crank arm, 121, operatively connected by ,a link, 122, to a crankarm, 123, of vertical shaft 109.

Reed valve 43 is provided with openings, 124. which are adapted to register with reed ducts 11. The valve extends outward from chest 44,.and co-acting with its 'pro jecting end. 125, there is a spring by which the valve yieldfnglv'held in a closed position. A sliding collar, 126. co-actingwith a fixed collar. 12?, on valve rod 125, is connected by a link. 128, to a crank arm, 129, on vertical shaft 108. Valve rod 125 has a second sliding collar. 130, which acts against a fixed collar. 131, thereon. and-is connected by link 13:. to, a crank arni, 133, pivoted upon vertical shaft 109. Link 132 and crank arm 13 are connected by a link. 134;, to a crank arui. 135. secured to vertical shaft 94L Assuming the various valves 40. 3-"), 12, 37. 10. and :30 to be closed. comnni ir-ation between the sound producingdevices and the several sources of air pressure being thus cut oil", there will be no musical re sponse, as: the perforations of the music sheet register with the tracker-board. If now it is desired to play a selection with violin and piano-effect, a set of reeds, such as is represented at '41, controlled by-the valve 43, may be selected to play the violin part. Through the valves 10 and. 36 and the/ connections above" described, the piano i nay be made responsive to either set, of perforations in the music sheet; likewise, the reeds, by valves 12 and 37. The valves 12 and 43 are, therefore, opened, making the reeds 41 responsive to the selector perordinary perforations 65 of the music sheet by opening the valve 36.

The valves 12 are opened by pulling the stop 97 and this results in opening the valve 4.3, which is connected therewith through rod 96, crank arm 95, shaft 94, crank arm 135, links 130 and 131 on rods of the valves. The valves 36 are opened by pulling out the l crank arm 84, shaft 83, crank arms 82, and

links 81 to the valve rods 79.

Through the connections above'desoribed, [it will be observed that, pulling stops 77, 105, and 9?, will throw in the piano and the l first and second sets of reeds and cause them to respond collectively to the perforations 05 and 06 in the music sheet, while pulling stops 86, 111, or 110 will throw them into connection to respond to the ordinary perforations 65.

Inasmuch as valves 12 and 37 act for any number of sets of reeds or .other musical responsive devices, they must be opened I when such devices are to speak, and closed when the devices are to remain silent. The rods 107 of valves 37 are, therefore, con- ,tnected, as above described, to be operated l by both stops. 110 and 111, and the rods 88 ofva'lves 12 arelikewise connected to be operated by stops 97 and 105.

Referring to Fig. '14: the tracker-board 15, take-up roll, 174 and music roll, 17 5, are shown mounted in the usual manner in a frame, 177 which is situated in the upper part of the instrument, immediately in the rear of the front panel of the casing. The take-up roll is connected through gear 173, pinion 172, sprocket gears 171, and chain 171 with a shaft 160' which is driven by a pneumatic motor, 136. shown in Fig. 1. The motor is designed to be operatedby the high exhaust pressure in' the chamber 2, which, as shown in 1, is admitted to the wind chest of the motor through the port 137*. Controlling this port. there is a valve, 137, which is connected through a rocker-arm,

governor, 139, carried by the motor shaft, 5 the arrangement being such that the speed i of the motor will be maintained constant-.'

stop 80, which is connected through rod 85,

forations 60 and the power pneumatics 9 of 1 the piano are connected to respond to the pin or stud, 150, thereon which projects be-.

. against a. projecting pin, 152, of a sector, 153. Asarranged, the spring acts to yieldingly maintain the arm 149 in a central posiment.

' is mounted in a swing-bearing, 154, which is in opposition to its spring 156 and carry the.

Power is transmitted from the motor shaft through variable speed gearing, to a l shaft, 143, which is connected by sprocket gears 167 and chain 167' to shaft 166, by 1 which the take-up roll is driven, as above described. The particular type of variable speed gearing is unimportant, but is preferably of the form shown, and serves to enable an operator to vary the speed of travel of the music sheet across the trackerboard as desired. This gearing consists of a cone pulley, 141, fast upon the motorshaft, and a friction wheel, 142, splined, as indicated at 144, upon the shaft 143 and movable lengthwise thereof It will be observed that the motor shaft is inclined at such an angle as tobring the face of the cone pulley into parallel relation with the shaft 143, thereby permitting movement of the wheel 142 throughout the length of the conegwhile in driving relation therewith.

v The wheel 142 is given motion lengthwise of its shaft by means of a fork, 145, which is connected througha link',- 146, with a crank arm, 147, fast upon tliegend of a hollow shaft, 148. Secured upbn the other the shaft 148, there is an arm, 149, having a tween the ends ofa spring, 151, coiled upon the shaft 148. The ends of the spring 151 are crossed as shown'in Fig. 18, and bear tion relative to the sector 153, at the same time permitting movement thereof in either direction The sector 153, as shown in Fig. 17 is provided with a series of notches, 157, and cooperating therewith there is a fixed tooth or projectio-n,.158, secured to the adjoiningsection of the frame of the instru- A sleeve, 153, loose upon the shaft 148 and formed in part with the sector 153,

pivoted at 155 and under the action of a spring, 156, normally supports the sector in locked relation with the tooth 158. Two adjustments are thus provided for controlling the speed oftravel of the music sheet across the tracker-board. One of these adjustments serves to set the gearing to run at a definite speed, determined by the char acter of the musical composition to be played, and the other permits suchspeed to be varied in accordance with the usual markings upon the music sheet or phrased atthe will of the operator. In making the first adjustment, the operatorgrasps-a lever, 160, which is pivoted at 161 upon the arm 149 and presses downward upon the same, causing the swing-bearing 154 to yield sector-153 downward until the notched face thereof clears the tooth 158. Being now end of shaft 181, is pivotally free, the lever 160, arm 149 and sector 153 may be moved as a unit toward the right or left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 18, and such "lotion, transmitted through the connections described, will cause the friction wheel to move along the face of the cone pulley until the required speed of travel of .the music sheet is obtained. If now the operator permits the spring 156 to act and return the swing-bearing 154 to its normal position, the sector will be carried upward until the tooth 158 rengages the notched face thereof and yieldinglv locks the same, together with the arm 149 and lever 160, as adjusted. In order now to vary the speed for which the mechanism is thus set, the second adjustment is made by moving the arm 149 by means of the lever 160, to the right or left, the direction depending upon whether the speed is to be increased or decreased. It will be observed that asthe sector is locked,

the movement of the arm 149 will be op posed by the permitted by the operator, to return the lever to normal position, centrally of the sector. i

To enable the operator to accent .one or more notes which would otherwise be sounded on the low pressure, a; port, 164*,(see Fig. 17) is provided between the high andv low pressure chambers 2 and 21 and coiiperating therewith there is a valve 164 which is controlled by a backand forth movement of the lever 160, which is connected with the stem thereof by a rod 159 and bell-crank lever 162 pivoted at 163. ,The rod 159 is pivotally secured to thelower end of the lever 160 and extends loosely through the hollow shaft 148 and is pivoted to an arm of the bell-crank 162. A spring, 165, encircling the projecting end of the rod 159, acts through the bell-crank to yieldingly hold the valve closed.

The rewind of the music sheet is controlled by a' bell-crank lever, 187, as shown in Fig. 14, which is pivoted at 188 andcorinected through a rod, 186 with a cranlcarm, 185, of a rock shaft, 181. Fmstupon the rock shaft 181 there are two arms, 180 and 182. The arm 180 is provided with a pin or stud which enters an annular groove of a clutch sleeve, 168, on which is secured one of the sprocket wheels 1715 i The sleeve 168 is splined, as indicated at 169, upon the shaft 166 and is movable in and out of. driving -relation with a coiiperating terminal clutch member 179 of a shprt spindle 176,. the opposite end of which lis socketed and notched in the usual manner to receive the winged end of the music roll spindle (not shown). The other arm, 182, of the rock connected to a T- shaped swinging frame, 183, which is movable about a pin, 184, as a center,,'fas shown in Fig. 15. "lllounted in thefram' 183 there is a shaft, 170, having secured thereon at spring 151, which acts, when.

one end, the pinion 172, and at the opposite endthe sprocket wheel 171, which, as above described, form partof the gearing connect- L ing the take-up roll in driving relation with the shaft, 166.

A spring, 190, connected to lever 187, acts to hold the clutch members 178 and 179 out of engagei'nent and the swinging frame 183 in a position to maintain the. pinion 172 in driving relation .with the gear 173. It will, therefore, be seen that normally, power transmitted from the motor 136, through the gearing described, will rotate the take-up roll and give the music sheet motion across the tracker-board in i the usual manner.

The rewind of the sheet .is effected iuoving the arm 187" of the bell-crank 187 A sliding door, 192-, is mounted in the.

front panel of the casing of the instrument and serves to shut off the sound made by the music sheet in passing across the described.

tracker-board. The door is provided with a panel of. glass, as indicated at 193, through which the marks of expression, etc., upon .t he sheet may be observed as it passes across the tracker board.

The bell-crank lever 187, controlling the rewind of the music sheet is situated in the path of travel of a. projection, 191, on the sliding door 192 and as arranged is given the required movement by the door, as it is opened, to throwin the clutch and swing the pinion 172 clear of the gear 173, and the rewind of the music sheet follows, as above In the modification of valves and ducts shown in Fig. 19, a port 194, connecting ducts 13 and 19 is normally closed by a valve 195 attached to'valve stem 4. Owing to the small area of the port 194, the pressure exerted upon the valve 195 at the port 194 from duct 13 is insufficient to overcome the counteracting pressure-of the spring 6 upon the stem to which the valve 195 is at.- tached, with the effect that the valve 195 is maintained closed. When, however, the

pressure from the air entering the duct 13 is exerted upon the diaphragm 3, the valve 195 will be shifted to the right and the port 194 opened, which will remain open as long as air from the duct 13 is exerted upon the diaphragm 3. The purpose of this arrangement is the same as that. of the valve 27 in Fig. 11, that'is, it permits the valve 5 to maintain its speaking position as long as valve 30 remains in its speaking position.

. As the bleed hole 68 connecting chamber 20' the bell-crank tersecting paths of' travel.

to. the high exhaust passage 2 is larger than bleed hole 67, it will be seen that a larger quantity of air will be required toactuat-e the pneumatic 20 than the pneumatic 3.

In Figs. 20 to 24, inclusive, a modified construction and arrangement of the high and low pressure valves is shown, the object of which is to cause one valve when operated, tobe locked in an open position by the other for the purpose of sustaining ,a note selected by either an auxiliary or a main perforation, until the main perforation in either' instance has passed over both the main and auxiliary tracki' ducts. This modification while not limited in its use, is adapted, as herein shown, to cooperate with a. music sheet and tracker-board of the'form illustrated in Fig.24, which differs from the form shown in Fig; 3, in having the auxil iaryperforation, 66 alined with the main perforation, in the direction of travel of the music sheet.

The high and low pressure valves, 5 and 30", as shown, are of substantially the same ('OIIStIUCtIOH, being loose upon their stems,

4 and 29, and operativ'ely connected therewith by means of collars and a flexible diaphragm, Fig. 20. The collars are relatively spaced to permit more or less lost motion between. the valves 5 and 30" and their stems 4 and 29, asthe valve opened or closed. As arranged, the valve stems are disposed at an angle of about 90 degreesand have in- At their free ends they terminate in heads, which. normally, are movable, one clear of the other.

In sounding a note to differentiate it from the others, the registering. of an auxiliary perforation, 66, of the music sheet, with a main opening, 16, of the tracker-board 15 has no efi'ect upon the tone producing de vices, as the air admitted is not suflicient to overpower the bleed hole 68 and is immediately exhausted. The bleed-hole 68 is suit ably sized. for this purpose and. consequently, there isn'o movement-of the low pressure valve 30". The continued advance of the music sheet'brings the auxiliary perforation 66*. into register with the auxiliary tracker-duct 14 and the air admitted to high pressure diaphragm chamber 13", through duct 13, shifts the valve 5", closing port 33 to the air and opening port 32 between the high exhaust pressure chamber 2* and the duct 8 leading'to-the sound producing devices 38, 41. and 9. The opening of. the main tracker duct 16 bv thewmain perforation 65 follows and" admits air to the diaphragn'i chamber 20*, which tends to lift the low pressure valve 30 but its move- .iucnt is blocked by the stem 4 ofthe high pressure valve, as indicated in Fig. 21 and dotted lines in Fig. 20, the valve 30 will remain seated, although there "will be a slight movement of the stem 29 This movement, however, is prevented-by the,

head of the stem l" being locked in its open position, thereby maintaining the valve open until such time as the main perforation 65 has passed both the ducts 16 and l t.

ll a perforation 65* unaccompanied by an auxiliary perforation 66 passes over the tracker-board it first opens duct 16*, cans ing the low pressure valve to open. It then passes over the auxiliary duct 14 tends ing to open the high-pressure valve 5', but stem 29 of low pressure valve 30 prevents this. As the perforation 65 moves past the main tracker duct 16*, thereby closing said energy, two series of duct, the low pressure valve 30*; tends to close but cannot do so, as it is locked in its open position by the high pressure valve stem i Fig. 22. Low pressure valve 30 is maintained open until perforation has passed over the auxiliary duct 14 allow ng both valves 5 and 30 to regain their initial position, as shown in Fig. 20. It is seen from this description that the first valve to operate is i'naintained in its open position by the last valve operating and the latter is prevented from opening by the former.

llaving thus described my invention, 1 claim: I

l. A mechanical musical instrument comprising sources of low and high exhaust sound producing devices differing in pitch and arranged in pairs'ot similar pitch, the members of one series (littering in type from the-ether, a pneumaticconnection having a valve between said low exhaust energy and a pneumatic connection having a valve between. said high exhaust energy and each of said pairs of sound producing devices, manually operative means for controlling said pneumatic connections whereby either or both of .said types of sound producing devices art: rendered operative or inopeaitive at the will of the operator, and means for actuating said valves whereby one sound producing device ol any one of said pairs may be actuated through either one of the two corresponding connections tothe exclusion of the otherl A mechanical musical instrument coinprising a tone producing device. sources (it lam" and high exhaust encrgv, a passage connecting said tone producing device to said lcvv exhaust energy, and a main valve normally closing said passage, a passage connecting said tone producing device to said high exhaust energy, andan auxiliary 'alve assa es overned b sai normally closing the last named passage and under specified conditions closing the first named passage, means for actuating said main valve whereby'said tone producing device is actuated only by said low exhaust energy, means for actuating said two valves simultaneously, whereby the first named passage is closed by said auxiliary valve and said tone producing device is actuated by said high exhaust energy, and means whereby the passage connected to said high exhaust energy is kept open during the time said main valve is actuated.

3. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a source of exhaust energy, a tracker board provided with two independent sets of ducts, one o-f'said sets of ,duc ts having different atmospheric capacity from the other, series otfpneumatio devices operatively connected to sets of ducts through independent, communicating passages, and

means for. rendering one of said pneumatic devices operable only in response to an approximate degree of atmospheric pressure proportionate to the capacity of its duct, said means comprising a small bleed hole from the duct of little capacity and a larger bleed hole from the duct of greater capacity to said source of exhaust energy.

4. A mechanical musical instrument comprising tone producingidevices, a source of energy, a plurality 'of' pairs of tracker ducts, pairs of pneumatics operable by atmospheric pressure, high and'lo'w Er-Essur' exhaust pairs of pneumatics, pairs of channels for the passage of air at atmospheric pressure to said pneumatics, pairs of bleed holes for exhausting the air in said pairs of channels, said bleed holes being, of relatively different sizes whereby the requisite exhaustsv in said channels are varied.

5. A mechanical musical instrument comprising series of two types of tone producing devices, corresponding series'of high exhaust and low exhaust pneumatic devices for actuating said tone producing devices, either type of said tone producing devices con- 7 nected to said high exhaust or to said low exhaust pneumatic devices under specified conditions, and means for controllin' said pneumatic devices whereby a tone pro ucing device may be actuated by eitli'er one of said pneumatic devices to the exclusion of the other.

G. A mechanical musical instrument comprising sources of'low and high exhaust energy, two series of tone producing devices differing in pitch and arranged in pairs of similar pitch, the members of one series differing in type from the other, adjustable means whereby either one of said types of tone producing devices may be actuated only by the low exhaust energy and the other type actuated only by the high exhaust on mally admitting ergy, a traveling sheet having selective perforations, means for controlling the application of said lowexhaust energy whereby the type of tone producing device responsive thereto may be actuated; and controlling means for applying said high exhaust energy simultaneous with said low exhaust energy whereby said other type of tone producing device may be actuated only by the high exhaust energy; each ofsaid energy controlling means being responsive to said selectiye perforations in the traveling sheet. 7. -A sound producing device and a power pneumatic for actuating it, sources of low and high exhaust energ a passage connect -ing' said low exhaust and a passage connecting said high exhaust to said power pneumatic, two v ilves controlling and norair to said power pneumatic, means for whereby the actuation of one valve causes air to be exhausted from said power pneumatic through the low exhaust passage, and actuation of the other valve causes said low exhaust passage to be closed and causes air to be exhausted from said power pneumatic through the high exhaust passage.

8. In a mechanical trackerboard having a set of main ducts and a set of auxiliary ducts of smaller size than the main ducts, controlled by a music sheet provided with two sets ofperforations, one set of perforations arranged longitudinally in the sheet in line with the other set of perforations.

9. In amechanical musical instrument, a tracker-board having a set of main ducts and a set of auxiliary ducts of smaller size actuating said valves musical instrument, a.

than the main ducts, controlled by a music sheet provided with a set of main perfora- 40 tions and a set of auxiliary perforations of less diameter and arranged. longitudinally of the sheet in line with the main perforations.

10. In 'a mechanical'musical instrument, a music roll provided with main and auxiliary perforations, a series of main pneumatic valves controlled by the main perforations of the music sheet, a series of auxiliary pneumatic valves controlled by the auxiliary perforations of the music sheet, two series of tone producing devices differing in pitch and arranged in pairs of similar pitch, the members of one series difi'ering in type from the other, means whereby one type of tone producing device is actuated in response to the action of said main pneumatic valves, means whereby the other type is actuated in response to the action of said. auxiliary pneumatic valves, and means operat-ive independent ofthe auxiliary perforations for controlling the time of action of the auxiliary pneumatic valves. v11. In a mechanical. musical instrument,- a music roll. having main and auxiliary perforations, and main and auxiliary pneumatic valves arranged to be operated in pairs and provided with bleed-holes of different sizes.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY PRICE BALL.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY W. PUGH,

J R. VAN VLIET.

copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents eaelnlby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

